Improvement in strap-hinges



A. C. BUFFINGTON.

- swam mums, No.179,470. v Patented Ju1y4, 1876.

Wit'nesse s Inventor- N. PrERs. nibm-umoennuzn. msmumon. u c

NITED STATES PATENT FTT IMPROVEMENT IN STRAP-HINGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,470, dated July 4, 1876; application filed June 2, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:'

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM G. BUFFING- TON, of Gambra, San Luis ()bispo county, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Strap-Hinges; and I do hereby declare the following description and accoln panying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention without further invention or experiment.

My invention relates to what I call a selflubricating strap-hinge.

My invention consists of hard-metal leaves in combination with a soft-metal pintle, and soft-metal washers intervening between the knuckles of the leaves, as hereinafter more fully described and definitely claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, let A represent the straps or leaves of a butt or hinge. b b I) are the knuckles ot' thejoint, which unite the straps or leaves A A, and G is the pintle, which passes centrally through the knuckles. Between each two of the knuckles I place a metallic washer, d, which can be made of brass, copper, zinc, or other soft metal or combination of metals that will not oxidize or rust and adhere to the iron or steel knuckles, and the wearing of which will serve as a lubricator to prevent the joints from becoming stiff and squeaky.

I am aware that a pintle made of copper or other non-oxidizable metal has been used for connecting the knuckles of a butt or hinge, made of the same metal as said pintle; but even if a pintle of this character were used,

the faces of the knuckles would adhere to each other and gum, it no soft-metal washer.

These hinges are exposed to be wet and corroded by contact with the salt employed in the butter, and they soon wear out and break off by reason of this corrosion, and if one hinge becomes broken the box will almost certainly be destroyed before it reaches its destination. My construction will prevent, in a great measure, the breaking of the hinges by corrosion, in the manner described.

I am aware that sot'tmetal pintles have been used in hinges, and I am also aware that soft-metal washers have been used between the knuckles of the wings or leaves of hinges; hence I do not claim either, broadly; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a strap or other hinge, the leaves A, made of hard metal, in combination with a soft-metal pintle, O, and intervening soft-metal washers d d, as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

ABRAHAM O. BUFFING'ION. [L.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, CHAS. G. PAGE. 

